[{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\u003Cdiv id=\u0022republish_modal_form\u0022\u003E\u003Cform class=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form ecl-form\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 action=\u0022\/en\/article\/modal\/9412\u0022 method=\u0022post\u0022 id=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 accept-charset=\u0022UTF-8\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHorizon articles can be republished for free under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EYou must give appropriate credit. We ask you to do this by:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 1) Using the original journalist\u0027s byline\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 2) Linking back to our original story\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 3) Using the following text in the footer: This article was originally published in \u003Ca href=\u0027#\u0027\u003EHorizon, the EU Research and Innovation magazine\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003ESee our full republication guidelines \u003Ca href=\u0027\/horizon-magazine\/republish-our-stories\u0027\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EHTML for this article, including the attribution and page view counter, is below:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-form-item form-item js-form-type-textarea form-item-body-content js-form-item-body-content ecl-form-group ecl-form-group--text-area form-no-label ecl-u-mv-m\u0022\u003E\n \n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Ctextarea data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 aria-describedby=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 id=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 name=\u0022body_content\u0022 rows=\u00225\u0022 cols=\u002260\u0022 class=\u0022form-textarea ecl-text-area\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe end of superbugs starts with better animal welfare\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EIn 2019, more than a million people died globally due to common bacterial infections that were previously treatable with antibiotics.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EAntimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites mutate so that they no longer respond to medication. It has become a leading cause of death worldwide, killing more people than AIDS or malaria.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Antimicrobial resistance is everywhere,\u2019 said Dr Hein Imberechts, from the Sciensano research institute in Brussels, Belgium and scientific coordinator of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/onehealthejp.eu\/\u0022\u003EOne Health European Joint Programme (EJP)\u003C\/a\u003E. \u2018The real threat is not the resistance itself, it\u2019s the misuse of antimicrobial drugs,\u2019 he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThe over-prescription of antimicrobial medications such as antibiotics and antifungals is largely responsible for the evolution of superbugs. These are types of pathogens that can survive and reproduce while drug-sensitive strains are wiped out.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EIt is a problem for animal health as well. Drug-resistant bacteria can infect livestock and poultry on farms, for example, and if animals can\u2019t be treated, it can affect their growth, productivity or even lead to death.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EResistant bacteria\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Resistant bacteria are an increasing problem in veterinary medicine,\u2019 said Dr Hans Spoolder, a senior animal welfare scientist at Wageningen University in the Netherlands and coordinator of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/healthylivestock.net\/\u0022\u003EHealthyLivestock\u003C\/a\u003E project.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003EAntimicrobial resistance is everywhere. The real threat is not the resistance itself, it\u2019s the misuse of antimicrobial drugs.\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EDr Hein Imberechts, scientific coordinator, One Health European Joint Programme (EJP) \u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EIn some countries, farmers may give livestock low doses of antimicrobials to make them grow faster, for example, or antibiotics may be administered to an entire herd as a preventative measure.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EWorking with 44 food, veterinary and medical institutes across Europe, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/onehealthejp.eu\/\u0022\u003EOne Health EJP\u003C\/a\u003E programme is trying a new approach to disease surveillance and prevention. It aims to get the human, animal and environmental health sectors, which are normally separate domains, to join forces.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOne ecosystem\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We are convinced that we have to look at animal diseases, human diseases and the environment as being one ecosystem,\u2019 said Dr Imberechts. \u2018There may be spillover (between these sectors) and that is very probably what happened with the coronavirus SARS-CoV2,\u2019 he said, referring to the possible zoonotic effect, where diseases found in animals cross over into humans.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EA project called \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/onehealthejp.eu\/jrp-ardig\/\u0022\u003EARDIG\u003C\/a\u003E, which is part of One Health EJP, has been examining the dynamics of antimicrobial resistance in animals, humans, food and the environment in the UK, Norway, France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EHow microbials are used and recorded varies between countries and so do levels of disease-resistant bacteria. Some countries track the amount of antibiotics sold over a specific period rather than how much has been prescribed to animals. Drugs are sometimes administered en masse to large numbers of animals rather than to unwell individuals.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003EWe are convinced that we have to look at animal diseases, human diseases and the environment as being one ecosystem.\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EDr Hein Imberechts, scientific coordinator, One Health European Joint Programme (EJP) \u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Standards are needed to harmonise different approaches,\u2019 said Dr Imberechts. \u2018There are a number of errors in the registration of the use of antibiotics in animals, whereas it\u0027s far easier for humans.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ETo help standardise the data on pathogens and drug resistance, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/onehealthejp.eu\/jip-orion\/\u0022\u003EORION project\u003C\/a\u003E has created a glossary of over 1000 relevant terms. People working in different regions and sectors can better understand each other by using the same terminology.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/onehealthejp.eu\/jip-cohesive\/\u0022\u003ECohesive project\u003C\/a\u003E has developed an open-source online platform that will facilitate information sharing about potential outbreaks of foodborne diseases that could be transmitted between species, for example from animals to humans. \u2018This is very important if you want to compare (information) with other countries and set alerts,\u2019 said Dr Imberechts.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMedicate responsibly\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EPathogens are less likely to become untreatable if antimicrobial treatments are used responsibly. As part of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/healthylivestock.net\/\u0022\u003EHealthyLivestock \u003C\/a\u003Eproject, Dr Spoolder and his colleagues are employing four early-intervention and preventive strategies to reduce the need to use antimicrobials in pigs and chickens.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThe project focuses on Europe and China, two regions where active research into antimicrobial resistance is already underway.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThe first strategy is to use preventive measures to stop pathogens from entering farms in the first place. One approach is to develop an app that can be used to assess risk factors for the deadly African swine fever virus on pig farms in China.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EHealthyLivestock is also researching ways to prevent diseases from spreading by early detection of health problems in poultry flocks using a camera system. By comparing behavioural patterns in diseased and healthy chickens, they are trying to identify those that may be unwell based on their movements.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We are still developing the technology but it\u0027s very promising,\u2019 said Dr Spoolder. \u2018There is still a lot to gain with respect to disease detection.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EGreater use of targeting will also reduce the amount of microbials used and could therefore lower the risk of developing resistance. \u2018If you know which animals are ill, then you (should) medicate them and not all the animals, including the healthy ones in your group,\u2019 said Dr Spoolder.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStronger immunity\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EImproving resilience in animals makes them less likely to become ill.\u0026nbsp; Research focusing on female pigs has revealed that the conditions in which they are kept affects the health of their offspring.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003EThere is a very direct effect from stress in the mother to the resilience of their offspring.\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EDr Hans Spoolder, coordinator, HealthyLivestock project\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ESows that live in groups and move around freely give birth to piglets that have stronger immune systems and can better withstand pathogens compared to those that spend their lives in stalls.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ESow stalls have been prohibited in the EU since 2013, except for a few weeks during pregnancy, but they are still allowed in China. \u2018There is a very direct effect from stress in the mother to the resilience of their offspring,\u2019 said Dr Spoolder.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EOther experiments indicate that more space and straw are environmental factors that allow pigs to recover more quickly from infections.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EWith an ambitious target to reduce sales of antimicrobials for farmed animals and aquaculture in the EU by 50% by 2030, animal health and welfare plans will start to play a greater role in reducing disease.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\t\u003Cli\u003EThe HealthyLivestock project will be organising an industry day for practitioners and scientists to meet and discuss innovations to fight antimicrobial resistance in livestock farming on 23 June 2022, Bologna, Italy. Follow the link to find out more about \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/healthylivestock.net\/conferences\/2020-2021-2022\/\u0022\u003Ethe HealthyLivestock industry day\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\n\u003Ch5\u003EThe research in this article was funded by the EU. 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